Weight Loss With QNEXA Over Two Years Provides Patients With Substantial Cardiovascular Benefits

Long-Term Data from the SEQUEL Study Presented at the American
College of Cardiology Shows Reduced Need for Blood Pressure
Medications and Improvements in Lipids

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.,
April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- VIVUS,
Inc. (Nasdaq: VVUS) today
announced long-term data that demonstrated patients treated with
the investigational drug QNEXA® for two years showed reductions
in blood pressure and the use of antihypertensive medications as
well as improvements in lipid levels following significant
reductions in weight loss as compared to those in the placebo group
over two years.

The data – additional results from the SEQUEL study
– were presented Sunday at the 60th Annual Scientific Meeting
of The American College of Cardiology by Michael Davidson, M.D., clinical professor and
director of preventive cardiology at The University of Chicago.

Specific results are as follows:

Patients on QNEXA had significant reductions in weight loss as
compared to those in the placebo group over two years.
Least-squares mean percent weight loss at week 108 was -9.3% and
-10.5%, respectively, for the mid and top dose as compared to -1.8%
for the placebo group.

Overall, patients taking QNEXA showed a significant reduction
in the number of antihypertensive medications they required as
compared to those taking a placebo over two years of
treatment.

Specifically, patients with hypertension at the beginning of
the study taking QNEXA mid and top dose showed a significant
reduction in the number of antihypertensive medications they
required of -9.8% and -18.9%, respectively, while patients taking a
placebo showed a net increase of +4.2%.

Dyslipidemic patients at baseline treated with the mid and top
dose of QNEXA had decreases in triglycerides of -25.9% and -26.3%,
respectively, as compared to -14.3% for the placebo group.

Dyslipidemic patients at baseline treated with the mid and top
dose of QNEXA had improvements in HDL-C of +11.4% and +16.7%,
respectively, as compared to +9.1% for the placebo group.

"In this study, QNEXA patients on the top dose had sustained
weight loss greater than 10% over two years. This weight loss led
to clinically relevant reductions in blood pressure, triglyceride
reduction greater than 25%, and a dramatic increase in HDL levels,"
stated Dr. Davidson. "Achieving and maintaining this degree of
weight loss, one that impacts cardiovascular risk in a clinically
meaningful way, is often difficult for patients. Maintaining
double-digit weight loss over two years, with resulting
improvements in cardiovascular risk factors and an overall
reduction in medications used to treat comorbidities makes this
important data for clinicians."

QNEXA therapy was well tolerated, with no new safety signals
seen between 56 and 108 weeks. The most common side effects were
upper respiratory infection, constipation, tingling, sinus
infection, dry mouth and runny nose. Serious adverse event rates
over two years were low (mid and top dose 5.9%, 8.1%) and placebo
(6.2%), with no drug-related serious adverse events reported. The
completion rate in SEQUEL was approximately 83% for both QNEXA
doses and 86% for the placebo group. Discontinuations due to
adverse events were 4.6% and 4.4% for the mid and top dose,
respectively, and 3.1% for the placebo group.

About the SEQUEL Study

SEQUEL (OB-305) was a double-blind, placebo-controlled,
three-arm, prospective study. Patients continued receiving the same
treatment assignment to which they had been randomized in the
CONQUER study in a blinded fashion: either once-daily treatment
with top-dose QNEXA (n=295), mid-dose QNEXA (n=153), or placebo
(n=227). The SEQUEL study was a 52-week extension study for a
subset of patients who completed the 56-week CONQUER study. The
total study period was 108 weeks. SEQUEL included 675 obese or
overweight patients, all of whom had two or more weight-related
co-morbidities and an average baseline BMI of 36.1. Throughout the
108-week treatment period, all patients were advised to follow a
modest lifestyle modification program including reduction of food
intake by 500 calories per day.

About QNEXAControlled Release
Capsules

QNEXA [kyoo-nek-suh] is an investigational drug candidate
being developed to address weight loss, type 2 diabetes and
obstructive sleep apnea. QNEXA is a once-a-day, proprietary, oral,
controlled-release formulation of low-dose phentermine and
topiramate, which is designed to decrease appetite and increase
satiety (the sense of feeling full), the two main mechanisms that
impact eating behavior. In phase 2 and 3 clinical data to date,
patients taking QNEXA have demonstrated statistically significant
weight loss, glycemic control, and improvement in cardiovascular
risk factors, when used in combination with a diet and lifestyle
modification program.

About VIVUS

VIVUS is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to
address obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes and male sexual
health. The company's lead product in clinical development,
QNEXA®, has completed phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment
of obesity and is currently being considered for approval by US and
EU regulators. QNEXA® is also in phase 2 clinical
development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obstructive
sleep apnea. In the area of sexual health, VIVUS is in phase 3
development with avanafil, a PDE5 inhibitor being studied for the
treatment of erectile dysfunction. For more information about the
company, please visit www.vivus.com